Ex-Fred Media duo Roger Vanderspikken and Jimmy Elkington form distributor

Jimmy Elkington (left) and Roger Vanderspikken

Roger Vanderspikken and Jimmy Elkington, former executives at Australian distributor Fred Media (now Radar Studios), have launched their own factual-focused distribution company in Melbourne.

Season Three Media specialises in premium factual and lifestyle programming and launches with 170 hours of content across 26 seasons and formats. According to the company, it is actively engaged with Australia- and New Zealand-based producers as it plans for global market expansion.

Vanderspikken and Elkington previously worked together at Fred Media, which recently merged with parent company WTFN Group’s digital outfit Radar into a single business unit called Radar Studios.

Vanderspikken has 20 years’ experience in the industry, 13 of which were at Fred Media where he held senior roles including chief operating officer and general manager.

Elkington spent eight years at Fred Media, most recently as head of sales for Asia Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa, and Africa.

The pair are co-MDs of global content at the new venture. They are joined by another former Fred Media colleague, Josh Chiodo, as content operations manager. Chiodo was media coordinator and technician at Fred Media.

Content on Season Three Media’s initial slate includes the format rights and seasons one to three of Maker Media’s home renovation series Budget Battlers, Blue Tribe Media’s Curating Taste (6×60’) and Side B Films and Dead Heart Films’ Precious Metal: A Love Story (5×60’).

Also on the slate are the format rights and S1-4 of 1440 Productions’ parenting series The Yes Experiment, Film Quarter’s extreme sports and mental health-focuses series Extreme Minds (4×60′) and Young Guns’ feature doc LifeBoat.

As well as distribution, Season Three Media provides support for funding guidance, format development, pitching assistance and brand integration.

Vanderspikken said: “We understand the entire ecosystem from development and funding through to production, sales, operations and reinvigorating content years later for new markets. Being nimble, we can engage with producers and clients at all levels and stages of production, which is more vital than ever in the current market.”

Elkington added: “We are here to champion independent, innovative producers and extend their formats and content to the widest markets and audiences possible. Season Three is our third chapter together. We’re intentional about being transparent, efficient and, most importantly, building strong, authentic relationships.”